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Giving to The Preuss SchoolPreuss Giving

From the day scholars first arrive at The Preuss School UC San Diego, their future—and the future of their families—changes. They realize college and a career are within their grasp, and that anything is possible. When you make a gift to The Preuss School, you help make this happen.

What your support makes possible:

  • Longer learning times in the classroom.
  • Bus transportation for our scholars from over 40 zip codes in San Diego.
  • Access to programs in art, music, math, athletics, robotics and more.
  • Connection to tutors, mentors and counselors who help guide scholars on their path to college and beyond.

Whatever your reason for giving, your support helps scholars at The Preuss School succeed against the odds. Federal and state funds cover only the most basic expenses of a traditional school such as books and instructional supplies. Your gifts, especially when pooled with the gifts of others, can lead to real change, transforming the lives of our scholars as well as the world around them.

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How to Give

It’s easy to make a gift to The Preuss School. Just follow these two steps:

Step 1: Choose an opportunity below.
Step 2: Make your gift by clicking on the link within the drawer.

For more information or assistance with your gift, please contact:

Lori Gremel
Director of Development
lagremel@ucsd.edu

Where to Give

When you make a gift to The Preuss School, you can support the department, program or initiative of your choice. Simply choose from the giving opportunities below.

Athletics

Athletics is an integral part of a Preuss education. When scholars participate in athletics, they feel connected to a community, they experience a greater sense of self-efficiency, are more likely to stay in school, and have a higher academic achievement rate.

Over the past 10 years, we have added three new sports. More than 175 student-athletes now compete in nine CIF sports including basketball, lacrosse, soccer, volleyball and cross country. With the cost of running a successful program steadily increasing, gifts to this fund will go toward referee fees, facility rentals, uniforms, sport equipment, tournament fees and more.

Make a gift to The Preuss School Extracurricular Activities Fund

The Preuss School Endowed Fund

Support the Endowed Fund to provide an annual payout to cover operational costs associated with the successful Preuss School model of a longer school day and year. Secure the fiscal resiliance, sustainability and the longevity of our vital work.

Make a gift to support The Preuss School Endowed Fund

Longer Learning Time

At Preuss, we use a variety of research-based best practices proven to help prepare low-income scholars be first-time college attendees. A longer school day and school year is one of these key practices. Our scholars are in school longer each day and for 23 days more than the typical student in California. This makes our unique curriculum possible, offering scholars nearly an entire extra academic year of education by the time they graduate high school.

Make a gift to support Longer Learning Time

Math, Science and Engineering

Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education is vital to our scholars. Over the past decade, growth in STEM jobs was three times greater than growth in non-STEM occupations with STEM jobs expected to keep growing over the next decade. At Preuss, we must ensure our scholars get the education they need to succeed in this area.

Make a gift to The Preuss School Math, Science and Engineering Initiative

Mental Health Support

The Preuss School provides a multitude of opportunities for scholars, but some of our scholars may suffer from psychological disorders or encounter emotional difficulties that hinder their ability to fully benefit from these opportunities. The Lisa Hirschman Memorial Fund provides critical mental health services to such scholars, particularly those who are limited by transportation difficulties and who lack insurance coverage. In addition, Hirschman psychologists provide support for parents and consultation for Preuss staff. With the help of the Hirschman Fund, scholars can continue to achieve their highest potential.

Make a gift to the Lisa Hirschman Memorial Fund

Music and Art

Studies have shown that scholars with arts-rich experiences in high school have higher overall GPAs than scholars who lacked those experiences, and that scholars who study music outperform on math tests. Support for this fund helps us ensure scholars get a well-rounded education that can improve their well-being and engagement in school.

Make a gift to The Preuss School Music and Art Initiative

The Preuss School Opportunity Fund

When you support The Preuss School Opportunity Fund, you give the gift of flexibility. This fund ensures we can continue to meet the ever-evolving needs of our scholars to provide a transformational education, whether that’s purchasing new technology for the classroom or sending scholars on an educational field trip.

Make a gift to The Preuss School Opportunity Fund

Robotics

Like so many things at The Preuss School, the school’s robotics program began with a dream: To build a working robot that could compete in FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics, a national league with a mission to inspire scholars to pursue education and careers in math, science and technology while promoting gracious professionalism. Fast forward some 10 years and The Preuss School’s middle and high school teams have continued applying that can-do spirit and enthusiasm to the competition every year. Your support helps our program continue to thrive.

Make a gift to support The Preuss School Robotics Team

Transportation

With 95 percent of our scholars commuting from over 40 zip codes – many south of Interstate 8 – school bus transportation is a critical component of our success. Transportation creates stability in attendance, which leads to a consistent environment for teaching and learning. The Preuss School must raise all the funds necessary to provide daily transportation and busing for the Saturday Enrichment Academy and summer school. The results are worth it: The average daily attendance rate at Preuss is 98 percent.

Make a gift to support Scholars’ Bus Transportation